TIG Accessories FAQs
Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing and using accessories for TIG welding.
Do I need a water cooler, and what size?
You need one if you use a water-cooled torch, which is the usual choice for higher currents and long, continuous welding. The cooler circulates coolant through the torch and cable, keeping them cool and allowing a lighter, slimmer cable than an air-cooled torch of the same rating.
Check that the cooler suits your torch and your power supply: its voltage, its water connections, and its capacity to cool at the heat your torch produces. Some machines and trolleys have a cooler built in or a place to mount one.
What should I put in a water cooler?
Use the coolant recommended by the cooler's maker. Plain tap water can cause scale, algae and corrosion, and in cold weather can freeze and damage the pump and hoses. A proper coolant mixture protects against these problems.
Check the level before you weld, top up with the correct fluid, and never run the torch without coolant flowing. Change the coolant at the intervals the maker gives, and follow the maker's instructions on disposal.
What is a trailing shield and when do I need one?
A trailing shield is an attachment that fits behind the torch cup and sends a stream of shielding gas over the weld after the torch has passed. Some metals, such as titanium and stainless steel, stay hot enough to oxidise as they cool, so the extra gas protects them while they cool down.
It is most useful for reactive metals and for welds where discolouration is not acceptable. It must match your torch and be fitted so that it follows the weld evenly.
What are purge flux, backing tape and foil tape for?
They are ways of protecting the back (root) side of a weld from air. Purge flux is a paste painted on the reverse of a stainless steel joint to protect it from oxidation when a gas purge is not practical. Backing tape is stuck to the back of the joint to protect the root. Foil or similar tape is also used to seal the ends and gaps of a joint when it is purged with gas.
Which is right depends on the metal and the job. Flux residue must be cleaned off afterwards, and some industries restrict what may be used, so check the requirements for your work and the maker's instructions.